A cell line derived from Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) ovary.

A continuous cell line, designated EO-2, was established from the ovary of Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. The cells have been passed for 110 times during 19 months in Leibovitz's L-15 plus 10% foetal calf serum under a temperature of 32±1°C. The cell line consists of fibroblastic cells with large or small nuclei. Multinucleated cells were present in most of the cultures. The number of chromosome counted from 100 EO-2 metaphase cells was ranging from 22 to 74 with a modal number of 38. A low plating efficiency of approximately 8% was recorded for EO-2 cell at 32±1°C. The temperature ranged from 20 to 37°C could support the growth of EO-2 cell line.EO-2 cells were also demonstrated to be susceptible to Eel Virus Europe (EVE), Eel Virus Europe X (EVEX) and Eel Virus America (EVA). In comparison, EO-2 cells are more sensitive to these three viruses than RTG-2 or FHM cells. The cell line was found to be free of bacterial, fungal and mycoplasma contamination.